MILTON, June 3, 2023 – Last year’s two-year-old pacing colt of the year, Stockade Seelster, and two colts from the first crop of Stay Hungry, Redwood Hanover and Annapolis Hanover, captured the three $75,000 divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere stakes this evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Somebeachsomewhere served as a preview of next week’s highly anticipated Pepsi North America Cup eliminations. In the first division it was Redwood Hanover and James MacDonald getting the call at the :25.4 opening quarter but local star No Control buzzed by him just past that point and hit the half in :54.1. It was there Dexter Dunn pulled the right line on favourite Fulton and he pulled out from fifth to start his advance. Fulton was eye to eye with the leader at the three-quarters in 1:22.1 and breezed on by as they headed down the stretch. Closing hard, fast and late was Redwood Hanover and that pair paced away from the field with Redwood Hanover getting up to win impressively in 1:49. Fulton, who came in two for two on the year, had to accept his first 2023 defeat with a strong second. Dupree Hanover, Ace Of Aces and Verdun collected the remaining cheques. Trainer Anthony Beaton co-owns the winner with Mac Nichol, McKinlay & Fielding and David Mercer. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Redwood was a $50,000 yearling purchase. Lightly raced last year at two, tonight’s win was his fourth in five trips behind the gate in 2023 to put his bankroll just over $70,000 on the year. “We were pretty confident coming in, he’s been great so far this year,” noted Beaton. “There were a couple tougher ones in here tonight but he stepped right up. He’s a big, strong, tough horse. He paced strong right through the wire.” Annapolis Hanover grabbed control early in the second split and paced by the first quarter in :26.2 Bamboozler popped out from fifth and swept up quickly to the front by the :55.2 half and was by the three-quarters in 1:22. Down the lane Annapolis Hanover came out from the garden spot and hauled down the leader to hit the wire first in 1:49.3. Bamboozler was right there for place while Ants Marching finished third. Mitchell York of Cranberry, Pa., trains and owns Annapolis Hanover who earned a new life mark with tonight’s effort. This was the colt’s first trip north of the border and first start outside of Pennsylvania. He’s yet to finish out of the top three this year as his summary is 3-2-1 in six tries for $84,000 in earnings. Lifetime he sports $268,000 making his $15,000 yearling tag look like a great bargain. “He’s a really nice horse, he’s really handy, you can do anything you want with him, my plan worked out perfect. I thought he had a real good chance as long as things went our way which they did,” explained Miller. As for the trip he noted: “He relaxed really good when he got to the lead, when Dexter (Bamboozler) come he was pacing pretty good. He (Annapolis) was being a bit lazy in the last turn but by the time we came to the head of the stretch he got back on his back and grabbed back a hold of me and I thought we were in good shape.” The final divisions saw a three wide battle for the lead to the quarter with Moment Is Here prevailing in a quick :25.3. Jody Jamieson pulled favourite Stockade Seelster out from fourth and he took over the front just past the :54.3 half and hit the three-quarters in 1:22.4. Moment Is Here challenged down the lane but Stockade held on to win in 1:50.1. Moment Is Here took second with Gung Ho third. Last year’s top pacing colt in both Canada and the US, Stockade was recording his first win as a three-year-old having finished second, by a nose, two weeks ago in his sophomore debut. Both his trainer and driver are pleased with his efforts to date. “I was confident in the horse, it’s just his second start of the year. He was strong at the wire and he wasn’t letting anyone by him tonight,” said Jamieson. “We took him to Classy Lane Farm last Saturday. Jody trained him and I trained another of my three-year-olds. He trained very well. I gave him an extra training on Thursday this week and buzzed him pretty good over the half mile track Shamrock Training Centre,” related trainer Dr. Ian Moore. “He was much better in the paddock tonight. His race two weeks ago he was actually trembling, he wasn’t quite himself, a little nervous maybe. Tonight, he was really relaxed, very calm, he warmed up excellent so I’m really pleased. He seems to be a lot more manageable this year, he wants to work with us and not against us so we’re looking forward to the next couple of weeks,” he added. Owned by Sally and Paul MacDonald, the Ontario Sires Stakes star is edging nearer to millionaire status as he now has $989,000 banked from 13 lifetime outings. Heather MacKay for Woodbine Communications Share This:Share
